Following FIFA’s refusal to grant Ireland an unprecedented 33rd spot at  next year’s World Cup in South Africa, ITV have revealed that the FAI have now sensationally requested that Jedward be reinstated into the occasional singing contest X Factor.

Simon Cowell appeared at a press conference yesterday to  read out a prepared statement in between bouts of laughing into his hand. “The FAI have asked - pfffft! – very humbly -fnarr- “can’t we be act number 5?”. Bwaaa! Yeah, they have asked for that really. It’s almost as if they haven’t thought about the ramifications of this at all, and are just trying anything now”.

Jedward supporter Robbie Keane reacted bitterly.  “Sure, they’ll all be having a laugh about it now – Cowell sitting up there on the phone to Cheryl Cole. They were probably texting each other, delighted with the result.” said Keane, somehow twisting his gnarled face into even more of a sneer, a possiblity which no-one had previously thought was possible. Much like a 33 team World Cup, in fact. “Of course, SMS entries after the closing time will not be entered into the competition but may still be charged” added Keane, through the corner of his ear, which had now acquired teeth and lips.

"Right, let's make the next round 'My Bloody Valentine' week"

Taking a more pragmatic view, Shay Given has refused to blame the judges, but instead questioned the controversial Deadlock procedure. “It’s totally unfair. Jedward were going to find it hard enough to get through at the best of times, but Deadlock was brought in at the last minute to favour the more popular, talented singers. ITV needs the big players in the final”.

ITV Chairman Archie Norman has expressed dismay at the FAI’s persistence. “It would simply open the floodgates, with every act asking to join the final. We had 853 auditions. It is sad that we are just talking about one set of twins. Even if they are really persistently annoying”.

There’ll be lots of gloves on show tonight and after Jimmy Bullard’s neckwear at the City of Manchester stadium maybe the odd hat and scarf from some of the South American players! We always reckoned that Mido was one of the hat and scarf brigade but his fitness never allowed him to prove it!

So will we play a reasonable side tonight? Probably not the first team but a much better “reserve” side than we have put out before. Have we a chance? I fancy we have a better chance with the weakened 11 than the first team as their desire to try for a first team place will push them on. Let’s hope we see a decent performance.

Predicted 11: Gomes, Hutton, Dawson, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Jenas, Huddelstone, Bale, Keane and Crouch

Result: I’m going for a 0-1 in extra time – remembering a league cup tie at Old Trafford with Ardiles scoring the winner! I think Joe Jordan headed the keeper and either Roberts or Hoddle took over in goal that night as well but I might be wrong!

keano's influence tonight will be in the spotlight.

With Pavlyuchenko out of the picture and probably the first player moving this winter transfer window, eyes now move away from his input in our cup campaign; (which notably last season, included a spectacular finish against Manchester United). What this does mean however, is that the ever-prodigal son Robbie Keane is looking to state his claim on a starting berth despite certain critics suggesting pseudo-jovially that his contract prevented him from starting on the bench. Whilst the pairing of Defoe and Crouch in the last two games, (as well as the introduction of Kranjcar on the left) definitely payed dividends, Harry is a man who knows seemingly knows the recipe, and his insistance that Robbie should play the majority of the season thus far despite to the uneducated lacking the pinasche of his peers is an intelligence that shouldn’t be discounted.

What Robbie does offer; and many fans can testify to, is the winning mentality, (look above for evidence), and is notably one of the great characters in our dressing room. It can be said that he will never be the same Robbie that partnered Berbatov, and many fans are aggrieved by this very cold fact. But the truth is that it is not that he has left his heart in the cold corridors of Anfield; it is simply that without the aforementioned Bulgarian, (who’s form at Manchester is also indicative of this riddle), he’s missing the telepathic foil that led to his most memorable moves. Whilst after the fallout of the move-back it can now be said that Robbie’s heart is in generally back in the right place; (would you begrudge yourself a move to Spurs from Bolton if offered?) It is notable that he is now in the position where Spurs have the ability to achieve what Liverpool under the shifty guidance of Benitez will most probably fail to achieve this season, (save for massive economic restructuring or intervention). Hopefully this will buoy Robbie and allow him to become the player he always saw himself being; even if it is in a white shirt rather than a red one.

Notably; headlines seem to indicate that Redknapp is happy to state a claim that we’re aiming for a top four spot this season rather than success in cup competitions which over recent years seem to have provided a nice distraction from failures in the league. Whilst this is the best route for the club in terms of the economic growth and consolidation of assets, the fans might find coming short of that spot in the league a little disconcerting. However it does seem that at the helm of the club we have a great progressive figurehead in relation to Daniel Levy, who despite claims that he’s building up the club simply to sell it on is definitely taking the club forward in front of our very eyes. So at once the cups become a different beast entirely; once a sanctum of sorts for ‘our’ style of classic football competition without the over ruling presence of economies of scale and the shifty politics that come with it. Now it is a bit of a distraction from the commitments we have in the league; along with neverending issue of pleasing a squad that’s depth is nearly unparalleled in the rest of the league. Oh how things change and in such a short time.

Tonight’s match as such is seemingly underlined by both manager’s indifference to the competition. Redknapp whilst aware of the rewards of cup glory; especially for an underachieving club such as ours has his eyes set on another prize; whereas Fergie would only really consider a win in the final as a multiplier to beef up the accolades from more economically rewarding competitions. It has all the makings of being a great match.

No seriously; it should be good. Especially seeing as in our recent history Manchester United seem to have always been there causing heartbreak; and with the suggestion that Manchester United’s squad tonight will be somewhat a young muted side; we should be looking to take the game in a convincing and entertaining manner, as is our original style, (and not Arsenal’s might I add.)

Other notable appearances tonight should include Alan Hutton, Gareth Bale, Jermaine Jenas and David Bentley. All of which in my eyes are players of great potential with the ability to produce top performances. Bring on Macheda and Welbeck.

Imagine that Apollo Creed loaded his gloves and knocked out Rocky in the third round.   Imagine Ken Jennings won all those Jeopardy games with an earpiece feeding him the answers.  Imagine that the “Miracle on Ice” never happened because of a sneaky play and a blown call.  There is a well known phrase that has been uttered countless times on the playground and the classroom: “Nobody likes a cheater.”  As sports fans, we all value sportsmanship and fair play.  We like to assume everything is on the level, and no one, whether the first place Yankees or the last place Orioles receives an unfair advantage.  However, what makes the above scenarios more despicable is that Creed, Jennings, and the Russian hockey team were massive favorites.  They shouldn’t have had to cheat to win.  Sports fans love a good underdog story, because it represents the smaller, the weaker, or the less skilled playing with more heart, determination, and hustle on a single day.  Nobody with a heart wants to see the strong resort to dastardly tactics to prey on the weak. But, that did happen recently in Ireland’s bid to upset the mighty French team in the last leg of European World Cup Qualifying, when international superstar, Thierry Henry blatantly and intentionally handled the ball in his own penalty area, allowing William Gallas to score the tying goal in extra time, which was ultimately the end to Ireland’s dreams of playing in South Africa.  The move left a bitter taste in the mouths of dejected Irishmen everywhere, and left many neutral fans wondering how, and why, this could have happened.

However, the hand ball wasn’t the only reason the Irish team was furious following their defeat.  Historically, the playoff matches in the UEFA division were selected by blind draw, with any team having an equal chance of playing another.  Yet, when it became clear that traditional powerhouses France and Portugal would not qualify out of the group stages, FIFA and UEFA officials began to sweat.  In a move as transparent as Sue Storm, the governing bodies decided to seed the teams, so that the four “best” nations (France, Portugal, Russia, and Greece) would not have to face each other.  Admittedly, seeding the teams is probably the right move, as most people would admit that the World Cup is both better and more marketable, if players like Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Andrei Arshavin are present in the event.  However, what rubbed the Irish the wrong way (and most likely the other three expendable teams) was the timing.  The rules were changed just weeks before the playoffs draws were to be announced.  In the past, and during the qualifying, Ireland could have hoped for a more favorable matchup against the likes of Slovenia or Bosnia-Herzegovina.  The luck of the Irish quickly ran out, as the Boys in Green drew arguably the best team in the playoffs.  Despite the overwhelming odds, the Irishmen turned in a spirited performance in the first game of the two game series, losing only after a fortunate deflection of a Nicolas Anelka strike.  The Republic and its fans still had hope, albeit slim hope, of making the trip to South Africa.

In game two, Ireland was clearly the better team.  Robbie Keane made the French sweat early with a goal, sending the Irishmen ahead.  France, throughout most of the match, seemed unable to build up an effective attack or convert their chances.  Meanwhile, the Irish continued to threaten the Frenchmen, with chances by Keane, John O’Shea, and Damien Duff just missing the net.  It was likely that a goal on any of those strikes would have rendered the French passports useless.  At the end of regulation, Ireland was ahead 1-0, evening up the aggregate score.  Extra time and, potentially, penalties loomed in the near future.  The overtime was hotly contested, as the Les Bleus seemed more offensively potent, and the Irish seemed to survive with a combination of heart and stout defending.  A heart-stopping moment came when Anelka, attempting to take advantage of a breakaway, fell to the pitch inside the penalty area.  The French appealed for a penalty only to be denied, and rightly so.  Instant replay showed little, if any contact, and seemed to incriminate Anelka more than Irish keeper, Shay Given.  After surviving a few scares and an apparent dive, penalties seemed inevitable.  However, Irish fortunes would quickly sour.

The French won a free kick from a threatening area.  The kick, clearly carrying too much pace, seemed destined to skip harmlessly away for a goal kick.  Yet, somehow, the ball found its way to the feet of William Gallas for a goal that broke the hearts of a nation.  The Irish team, led by Given, rushed to the official, appealing for a handball.  Based on Given’s reaction, and live footage, it was barely even necessary to check the replay to confirm the accusations: Thierry Henry had handled the ball.  It was blatant.  It seemed intentional.  And it happened twice.  In a play that would remind fans of the infamous “Hand of Maradona” debacle, Henry stretched his arm out once to keep the ball in play, and a second time to help assist Gallas’s game winner.  Gallas seemed embarrassed to have scored in such a way, turning in a conspicuously understated celebration.  Irish players screamed foul play and accosted the referee, pleading for the goal to be disallowed.  The official remained steadfast in his decision, and allowed the goal to stand.  It was in this underhanded fashion (pun not intended), that France booked their tickets to South Africa.  The game ended 1-1, with an aggregate score of 2-1, favoring Les Bleus.  And, in a scene that would arouse anger in many fans around the world, Thierry Henry, the game’s greatest villain, attempted to comfort a despondent Richard Dunne, Ireland’s best defender, as he sat on the pitch with his head hung low.

Many Americans who do not follow soccer may not understand the outrage surrounding Henry’s dishonorable antics.  We exist in a culture in which cheating is somewhat tolerated.  We are quick to embrace the World Series heroics of Andy Pettitte and Alex Rodriguez, forgetting their links to performance enhancing drugs.  The New England Patriots received a ridiculously lenient punishment for spying on other teams.  And, according to a good number of American sports fans, it is acceptable to overlook minor violations committed by our greatest basketball stars, while enforcing those same rules on lesser players.  Whereas most American sports accept rule breaking to get ahead, soccer is a game built on fair play and mutual respect.  It is a game in which a player will kick the ball out of bounds to let their opponents tend to an injured player.  It is a game in which teams are rewarded by the governing bodies for “fair play.”  It is a game in which one can be penalized for pretending to be fouled.  It is a game whose greatest crime is handling the ball.

Thierry Henry has admitted to handling the ball that broke Irish hearts everywhere, and was quick to point the blame at the official, not himself.  He also claims that he is not a cheater.  As much as Henry can deny his dishonest play, and plea for goodwill from the international soccer community, the fact of the matter is that Thierry Henry is a cheater.  He blatantly and purposefully broke a sacred rule of the game in order to gain a competitive advantage.  He used a dastardly trick to wrestle a World Cup spot away from a group of underdogs who were outplaying a superior opponent.  And most unfortunately, he lost the respect of a sporting community that once held him as a soccer idol.  It is unfortunate that a world class player like Henry could have acted in such a classless manner.

Futbol Ingles

Manchester City 1-1 Hull City

 

Portsmouth 1-4 Manchester United

Everton 0-2 Liverpool

Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea

Ver Tabla de Posiciones

Ver Tabla de Goleo

Tottenham’s staggering 9-1 win over Wigan at the weekend saw a number of records either broken or equalled. As well as being Spurs’ biggest top-flight win, Sunday’s one-sided clash at White Hart Lane also saw Harry Redknapp’s side become the second Barclays Premier League team to hit nine in one match. Jermain Defoe matched Andy Cole and Alan Shearer’s record of five individual goals in one Premier League fixture, while Wigan’s Paul Scharner got in on the act by claiming the ‘Thierry Henry slam-dunk of the week award’ as he claimed the Latics’ solitary goal.

Unsurprisingly, Defoe’s five-star performance helped him to earn the highest Actim Index score of the season, a sensational 87 points. The England striker’s mammoth score eclipsed that of Tottenham team-mate Robbie Keane, who held the previous highest total of 80 after scoring four against Burnley. Another Spurs star, Aaron Lennon, picked up 60 points this week to move back into the Team of the Season.

Despite the efforts of Wigan, Spurs do not have the highest number of players in the Team of the Week. That honour goes to London rivals Chelsea, who strolled to a 4-0 victory over struggling Wolves at Stamford Bridge. French winger Florent Malouda grabbed the Blues’ opening goal and picked up a healthy 39 points, while fellow goalscorers Michael Essien and Joe Cole also eclipsed the 30-point mark to book their place among the week’s top scorers.

Stoke’s televised victory over bottom club Portsmouth could politely be described as one for the purists. However, although entertainment was in short supply in a dire clash at the Britannia Stadium, the Potters can claim two of the week’s 20 highest scorers. Jamaica forward Ricardo Fuller grabbed the only goal of the game with 16 minutes remaining and earned 32 points, while Dean Whitehead claimed 26 points for his efforts in midfield. Stoke’s highest-scoring player remains highly-rated defender Ryan Shawcross. The giant 22-year-old, who captained the club for the first time at the weekend in the absence of the suspended Abdoulaye Faye, is in 44th position overall with 159 points.

Didier Drogba may not have featured for Chelsea this weekend due to injury, but the Ivory Coast striker has still moved to the top of the overall Actim standings after Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas endured a torrid time in his side’s clash with Sunderland. Fabregas led Drogba by two points ahead of the Gunners’ trip to the Stadium of Light and was expected to extend his lead at the Actim summit. However, the Spaniard went on to record a miserable score of -4 as Arsene Wenger’s side slumped to a 1-0 defeat, putting Drogba back on top. Arsenal forward Robin van Persie was another to miss the latest round of Premier League fixtures through injury and he has slipped from third to fifth in the overall standings as a result.

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has come in for significant praise in recent months, with many observers highlighting his importance to Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. And the 25-year-old Scot made another fine contribution as United eased to a 3-0 victory over Everton, opening the scoring with a sublime half-volley. Fletcher’s 29-point total sees him leap from 79th to 45th in the overall standings, making him United’s fourth highest-scoring player of the season.

Birmingham goalkeeper Joe Hart insists he still believes he can break into England’s squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. And the 22-year-old stopper, on loan at St Andrews from Manchester City, did his chances no harm with a fine performance in Birmingham’s 1-0 win over Fulham at the weekend. Hart picked up 21 points for his efforts – the highest score by a goalkeeper this week – and will hope to maintain his good form as the season progresses.

View the latest Actim Index >

Haven’t you heard? Tuesday is the new Thursday in terms of weekly Photoshopping. I didn’t realise last week but from now we’ll be doing this on Tuesdays. This week the theme was Stephen Ireland. Then Thierry Henry decided to handball his way to becoming the worst human being in the history of mankind and thus the theme was changed by The Guardian.

I personally think it’s all a big much ado about nothing. Yes he cheated, but it hardly tarnishes a whole 16 year career. There’s been a distinct lack of perspective, and too many people in the media forgot that it was hardly a given that Ireland were going to World Cup. It was 1-1 on aggregate at the time after all. 

Also, as has been pointed out in many places, weren’t Ireland the beneficiaries of their own ridiculous handball decision in World Cup qualifying? Swings and roundabouts. Anyway, my internetless woes at home continue somewhat so it’s another simple entry this week.

What's all the fuss? Does no-one else remember Thierry winning the Golden Glove awards while at Arsenal?

The rest of this week’s gallery can be found here (some very funny stuff, especially the winner).

T.

Archive.

I fotbollsvärlden finns det väldigt många lyckade övergångar, många mindre lyckade, många misslyckade till och med. Men sen finns de övergångar som man bara blir stum av, som man aldrig förstår, de oförklarliga övergångarna, jag tänkte lista några av mina personliga favoriter.

Sebastian Veron Manchester United-Chelsea 15 miljoner pund 2003

United köpte honom för 28 miljoner pund 2001, han spelade någorlunda under två säsonger, eller nej det gjorde han inte, han skadade sig, gjorde inte speciellt bra framträdanden och när ryssen kom sålde de honom för 15 miljoner pund, med andra ord, 13 miljoner mindre än två säsonger tidigare.
I Chelsea gick det nog ännu sämre, han spelade sju matcher innan han under fyra år lånades ut till diverse klubbar, notan för chelsea slutade alltså på 2,1 miljoner pund per spelad match. Vid det laget hade Veron kostat sammanlagt 77 miljoner pund i transfersummor.

Robbie Keane, Tottenham-Liverpool 20 miljoner pund 2008

Rafa flirtade hejvilt, Robbie förklarade att han älskade Liverpool, Daniel Levy satt i ett hörn och surade. Sommarens segaste förhandling var äntligen iland och alla var nöjda (förutom Daniel Levy, han satt fortfarande i ett hörn och surade). Allt var frid och fröjd tills Keane faktiskt skulle spela fotboll, då var inte livet i Liverpool lika roligt. Sex månader, 19 matcher och 5 mål blev det innan han packade väskan och drog tillbaka till Tottenham för 12 miljoner pund, med andra ord, Liverpool betalade 1,6 miljoner pund för varje mål Keane gjorde. Med sådana ekonomiska snillen vid rodret, vemfan behöver fiender?

Marius Cioara, UT Arad-Regal Horia 2006

Kommer någon här ihåg Marius Cioara? Nej jag trodde väl inte det, han lämnade inte något större avtryck i fotbollsvärlden. År 2006 såldes han till Rumänska division.3 laget Regal Horia för 15 kilo korv… Marius Cioara blev så förolämpad av hela historien att han valde att lägga ner fotbollsspelandet för att istället börja jobba på en gård i Spanien, och han krävde tillbaka korven som plåster på såren.

Ali Dia, Southhampton 1996

Graeme Souness trodde att han äntligen gjort det stora klippet, 30årige Dia skrev på för Southampton för en månad, han skulle få chansen att visa sin storhet. När Souness hört om honom var det två saker som fick honom på fall, 13 landskamper för Senegal och hans släktskap med George Weah (kusiner) förstod han att detta borde bli en succé. Det jobbiga var bara att ingetdera var sant, de 13 landskamperna existerade inte och Weah? Ja, det var Dias agent som låtsades vara Weah i telefonen. 32 minuter in i en match byttes Dia in mot Le Tissier, 53 minuter fick han på sig, 53 långa, hemska minuter där Souness antagligen fick minst två hjärtinfarkter, på 53 minuter visade han så effektivt som det bara går att han verkligen inte var en fotbollsspelare. Han fick bara 53 minuter i Southampton, efter det ville de aldrig se honom ige

(Sau ce tie nu-ti place, altuia nu-i face…)

“Voi trebuie sa-i convingeti, nimeni altcineva“, a conchis Sir Alex Ferguson, referindu-se doar la necesitatea introducerii tehnologiei video de catre FIFA pentru solutionarea fazelor litigioase, intrebat fiind in privinta hentului lui Thierry Henry. De fapt, managerul lui Manchester United nici n-a pomenit numele francezului, ca de altfel si Carlo Ancelotti, antrenorul celeilalte fruntase, lidera Chelsea, ce a atins exact acelasi subiect, evidenta video. 

Roger Federer, prezent in Londra la Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, a adus lumina din lumea Circului Alb, spunand sec ca “nu poti sa-l acuzi ca ar fi continuat faza. Daca arbitrul nu vede, cred ca de vina sunt sistemele si centralul. S-a intamplat deja de-atatea ori. S-au acordat atatea goluri ce n-au fost. Acesta a fost unul in plus.”  Roger, colegul lui Thierry, alaturi de golferul Tiger Woods, cei trei din reclama la Gillette…

Spre limpezirea apelor, odata furia oarba domolita si timpul sfetnic bun scurs intru judecarea la rece a valvataii pariziene, destui editorialisti ai ziarelor de weekend britanice si-au venit in fire iar intervievati din lumea sportului profesionist nu doar ca s-au abtinut in a-l cataloga in vreun fel pe asa etichetatul “trisor” Thierry Henry, ci s-au referit in general la erorile inerente de arbitraj, amintind de necesitatea evidentei video.

Henturile lui Henry le-au dat asadar ocazia antrenorilor sa aduca in discutie introducerea tehnologiei video in arbitraj, care bineinteles ideal ar fi sa nu permeeze lumea fotbalului. Naturaletea si imperfectiunea profund umana a jocului, ce dau har si atractivitate disputei, ar fi inlaturate in favoarea altei metode ducandu-ne incet si sigur spre robotizarea absoluta. Si-n plus, ce ne vom face cu un joc disputat la Lincoln, intr-o liga inferioara!? Toate bune pe stadioanele marilor cluburi, angrenate in marile competitii, insa apelarea la evidenta video doar in anumite partide ar fi in mod normal ilogica. Totul sau nimic… 

Mai mult, Patrick Barclay, comentatorul sef de fotbal pentru The Times, in articolul “Reactii imploratoare improasca si mai multa rusine pe o afacere trista“, pune lupa inclusiv pe incriminatorul Robbie Keane, capitan al Irlandei acuzand de la UEFA la FIFA si de la Platini la Blatter la finalul jocului de la Paris, si care jucator de la Spurs era sanctionat pentru… hent in atac, in careul lui Lloris, in prima repriza a returului din Franta.

Cu alte cuvinte, mai toti “sunt pe felie”, doar gandindu-ne la ingenuncherile teatrale, plonjoanele si tavalelile multor jucatori incercand sa smulga penaltyuri, dar unii striga mai tare decat altii “Prindeti hotul!” Am avut nefericita ocazie, intr-o buna zi, sa mi se destainuie ca irlandezii ar fi cei mai ipocriti oameni din lume. E imposibil de cuantificat o asemenea afirmatie si m-am aratat rezervat, daca nu foarte mirat, venind tocmai din partea unui… irlandez.

In februarie 2009, la Dublin, Irlanda cersea si obtinea penalty la 1-0 pentru georgieni, in urma unui hent inexistent. Roata morii se-nvarteste…

Insa reactia utilizatorului mainilor, Robbie Keane, si nu doar intr-o unica ocazie, dar mai ales inregistrarea video a incidentului din minutul 71 al jocului din februarie, Irlanda – Georgia, de pe Croke Park din Dublin, la scorul de 1-0 pentru ex-sovietici, cand centralul a acordat “verzilor” un penalty “din burta”, absolut imaginar, pentru, culmea ironiei, un presupus… hent, in ciuda semnalizarii unui… ofsaid de catre asistent, au pus deja in alta lumina scrancetele lipsite de demnitate ale insularilor in Orasul Luminii.

Vizionand faza penaltyului acordat, publicata pe YouTube, se observa ca Robbie Keane a ridicat mana intr-o tentativa de a-l influenta pe central, ceea ce de fapt a reusit, cersind practic un cadou nemeritat. Keane a egalat la unu iar cinci minute mai tarziu, dovada ca se poate ajunge la un 2-1 cu care Irlanda s-ar fi calificat la Paris, acelasi Keane a adus victoria impotriva Georgiei. Avea sa fie de fapt a doua cu 2-1 impotriva celor din Tbilisi, dupa cea din tur, la debutul lui Trapattoni, reusita insa in… Germania, pe teren neutru, datorita conflictului din spatiul ex-sovietic. De unde ca, adunand si notand ca insularii au strans doar 4 victorii din 10 meciuri intr-o grupa si cu Cipru si Muntenegru, e limpede ca Irlanda a avut sansele si avantajele sale evidente in campania de calificare, nefructificate insa, un motiv in plus pentru cresterea putin cate putin pana la temperatura de fierbere a frustrarii celor din Dublin.

O mare frustrare, sa fii egalat acasa in minutul 90, de campioana mondiala, Italia. “Daca am fi mentinut rezultatul, i-am fi <intins> pana la final in lupta pentru locul unu“, spunea apoi Given. Daca… Culmea e ca vorbele sale luau in calcul o victorie ca si acontata, in ultimul joc, cu Muntenegru. Succes ce insa n-a venit: 0-0. O si mai mare frustrare. Asta in vreme ce Italia invingea, cucerind logic si meritat grupa.

Si mai multa mizerie, in prima mansa cu Franta. 0-1. Pusi pe harta, la final, irlandezii cereau socoteala lui Diarra. Nu puteau recunoaste cu barbatie infrangerea, cineva avand insa sa se ia patru zile mai apoi de adversarii lor, la Paris, cum ca ar avea “inimi cat bobul de mazare“.

Frustrarea colosala a fost generata de ineficacitatea de pe Stade de France, de ratarile uriase ce ar fi desprins-o in invingatoare in fieful vicecampioanei mondiale, ratari care, convertite in macar un al doilea gol, i-ar fi adus calificarea. De aici probabil si reactia incredibila de dupa meci, cu declaratii, reactii si “iesiri” care mai de care mai belicoase, dezonorante, si care au inflamat oprobiul partinitor al maselor, incluzand destui microbisti de ocazie cu o precara sau inexistenta cultura fotbalistica si a sportului in general.

Spiritul revendicativ al vehementelor atacuri verbale, multe lasandu-te “masca”, fara replica, a stirbit implicit din simpatia ce Irlanda si-o atrasese cu jocul combativ impotriva Frantei, furia oarba dejucand indirect propria cauza de a arata lumii intregi nedreptatea ce li se servise si demascand un serios complex de inferioritate. Mai mult, a aratat un public telespectator “de fotoliu” nu doar patimas, ci alunecand pe neasteptate pante ale insultelor si xenofobiei. Cum a putut de fapt suporta hartia destuparea atator prejudecati latente!?

Dregand busuiocul, una din evantaiul publicatiilor dand initial in primire patimilor si etichetarilor gen “trisor”, The Independent din Londra a contrabalansat intr-o adnotare un prim editorial inflamator la adresa calificatei si a tintei oprobiului general, recunoscand in titlu “Ultima vorba: <dreptatea> noastra moralizatoare e la fel de patetica trisului” si subliniind ca “a fost tot ceea ce ne-am asteptat si ne-am dorit si – ca de obicei – ne-a facut ca si colectiv sa ne simtim mai bine“.

Omenirea a imbatranit mii de ani dar de fapt a ramas tot in jurul stalpului infamiei, cu piatra pregatita impotriva acuzatului. Henry a trecut zilele trecute prin purgatoriu…

Iar referindu-se la adidas si interesele cu conotatii economice ce ar fi influentat calificarea, dupa cum se exprimau Robbie Keane ori Duff, ar mai fi un aspect ce ridica semne de intrebare in privinta vehementei Irlandei. Tara de Smarald trece printr-o criza fara precedent in istoria sa ca natiune din Uniunea Europeana, cu cele mai mari datorii pe cap de locuitor din lume, 425% din PIB, iar o victorie in arena sportiva ar fi fost nu doar una de moral, dar si o recunoastere in proprii ochi si ai comunitatii internationale. O reconfirmare.

Irlanda va pierde venituri de milioane, ce ar fi survenit inclusiv din industria de divertisment, prin comercializarea de suveniruri cu FIFA 2010 World Cup si a bauturilor alcoolice in puburile ce-ar fi fost luate cu asalt in iunie anul viitor, motiv pentru care pe firul protestelor a intrat nu doar FAI, Football Association of Ireland, ci si ministri din guvernul de la Dublin. Masurat, prim-ministrul Cowen a declarat ca nu va aduce subiectul intr-o discutie cu francezul Sarkozy, asteptand insa din partea FAI sa lanseze un demers pe langa federatia de la Paris si FIFA pentru rejucarea jocului.

Conform regulamentului, o asemenea solutie e imposibila, deci s-a strigat in pustiu, fapt ce federalii din Dublin ar fi trebuit sa-l stie inca de miercuri noapte. Pasiunile au tulburat insa judecata si s-a ajuns la revendicari jenante. Iar la cum au actionat acum federalii, Roy Keane s-ar putea sa fi detinut un sambure de adevar in ceea ce-l determina sa paraseasca lotul national in plina campanie la Cupa Mondiala din 2002 si sa-si revendice retroactiv anumite scuze pentru un abandon reprobabil la vremea respectiva.

Vorba lui Roy Keane in lumina serii pariziene, “What goes around, comes around“, traducandu-se cam in vorbele titlului acestor randuri, cu trimitere la Football Association of Ireland. Si se pare ca nu doar noi ii avem pe cei din FRF dar, apa la moara in Bucuresti, multa lenjerie murdara e prin lumea aceasta. Roy Keane a socat zdrobsindu-se la federali pentru patetica si “plictisitoarea” cersetorie a simpatiei in privinta asa zisului “furt” din Franta, atragand atentia ca Irlanda sa se uite in propria ograda, in barna din proprii ochi, pentru a vedea carentele rezultate din temerea de a face curajos marele pas decisiv, slabiciuni ce au frustrat-o la maxim si carora le-au pus capac un gol din ofsaid.

Henry yang disudutkan karena dianggap tidak menjunjung tinggi sikap fair-play mendapat sejumlah dukungan dari berbagai warga Perancis yang berkecimpung di dunia sepakbola seperti Arsene Wenger,Zinedine Zidane, dan Patrick Vieira. Ketiga-tiganya menyatakan itu adalah keslahan wasit.

Henry juga telah mengucapkan maaf dengan pernyataan berikut,“Saya bukan wasit. Tapi jika saya sudah menyakiti seseorang, saya minta maaf,” tulis Henry di Twitter seperti dilansir Tribalfootball. Bahkan ia menilai tanding ulang adalah solusi yang paling adil.

Henry

Robbie Keane sendiri sudah mendengar pernyataan itu dan memuji sikap Henry melalui situs resmi Asosiasi Sepakbola Irlandia, Keane mengatakan,”Atas nama para pemain Republik Irlandia, saya ingin menyampaikan ucapan terima kasih kepada Henry atas pernyataannya [Jumat] sore yang menyebut pentingnya sebuah pertandingan ulang demi memenuhi keadilan.”

“Sebagai kapten dari tim Perancis, untuk membuat sebuah pernyataan seperti itu butuh keberanian dan kehormatan. Saya juga sebagai kapten dari Irlandia akan sangat senang jika ada pertandingan ulang untuk mewujudkan keinginan dari sikap fair play tersebut.”

“Sekarang kami hanya berharap Federasi Sepakbola Perancis bisa menerima keinginan dari kedua kapten untuk bisa mendapatkan hasil pertandingan yang terbaik.”

Tetapi pernyataan itu sia-sia karena Federasi Sepakbola Perancis menolak diadakannnya tanding ulang. “FFF memahami kekecewaan dari pemain, manajemen dan suporter Irlandia. Federasi juga tidak membantah kesalahan dari wasit sehingga gol Perancis yang menyamakan kedudukan tetap disahkan.” Demikian pernyataan dari federasi.

“Di akhir pertandingan dan karena Perancis juga pernah merasakan kekecewaan yang sama, maka FFF menyampaikan penyesalan dan bersimpati pada Irlandia.”

“Ditambahkan oleh federasi, “Thierry Henry, kapten tim Prancis, secara spontan mengakui handball. Di akhir pertandingan, dia mengakuinya kepada pemain Irlandia dan wasit serta media.

“Kejujuran ini merupakan teladan dari dirinya baik di klub maupun tim nasional. Karena mendapat tekanan yang berat, Federasi Sepakbola Prancis sepenuhnya mendukung dia.”

Di akhir statemen resminya, federasi mengungkapkan, “Asosiasi Sepakbola Irlandia telah meminta kepada FIFA agar pertandingan diulang. Namun, FIFA menolak permintaan itu karena aturan yang ditetapkan berlaku untuk semua pertandingan. Selama pertandingan, keputusan sepenuhnya berada dalam tangan wasit dan keputusannya adalah final. Karena itu, hasil pertandingan tak bisa diubah dan tidak bisa dilakukan pertandingan ulang. Keputusan FIFA mengikat untuk kedua
federasi.

Apakah benar ini kesalahan wasit bukan kesalahan Hand-ry ? Kirimkan tanggapan anda melalui komentar.

Perancis akhirnya lolos ke Piala Dunia 2010 setelah berhasil membungkam Irlandia dengan menang secara agregat 2-1, setelah meraih hasil seri 1-1 pada leg kedua setelah sebelumnya menang 1-0 pada leg pertama, pertandingan ini dilangsungkan di Parc des Princes, Kamis (19/11) dinihari WIB.

Di pertandingan kedua, tim nasional Irlandia mampu bermain lebih baik dan lebih lepas dari Perancis. Permainan cantik ini membuahkan hasil dengan unggulnya Irlandia 1-0 atas timnas Perancis pada menit ke 32 melalui gol yang disarangkan Damien Duff. Tak hanya sampai di situ timnas Irlandia terus menekan Perancis dan menghasilkan berbagai peluang namun gagal membuahkan gol.

Skor pertandingan tidak berubah sampai menit ke 103 di mana pada saat itu Henry, bintang timnas Perancis melakukan kecurangan dengan menyentuh bola dengan tangannya lalu mengumpan bola kepada Gallas yang langsung menyambutnya dengan baik sehingga membuat pertandingan berakhir dengan hasil seri 1-1 atau dengan keunggulan Perancis secara agregat.

Handball Henry

Gol ini menuai protes pemain timnas Irlandia namun sayang wasit tidak melihatnya dan menganggap gol itu sah.

Usai pertandingan Henry pun mengakui tangannya menyentuh bola dengan menyatakan, “Jujur, itu memang handball. Tapi, saya bukan wasit. Saya tetap akan melanjutkan permainan karena wasit membiarkannya.”

Apapun alasan Henry timnas Irlandia tetap tidak terima karena dengan gol kontroversial itu, mimpi timnas Irlandia untuk tampil di Piala Dunia 2010 pun pupus. Robbie Keane selaku kapten timnas Irlandia sendiri tidak dapat menahan emosi dan berkata,”FIFA jelas tak ingin Irlandia tampil di Piala Dunia.”

David Beckham yang mendengar berita ini menanggapinya dengan pernyataan yang lebih ke arah mendukung Henry,”Jujur, aku rasa Thierry tidak melakukannya dengan sengaja,” ujar Beckham kepada wartawan Amerika Serikat.

Saat ditanyakan apakah dia akan melakukan hal serupa jika dalam kondisi sama dengan Henry, Beckham menjawab, “Dalam situasi seperti itu, siapa tahu?”

“Anda harus lolos ke Piala Dunia, Anda tak sadar apa yang Anda lakukan.”

“Aku banyak bermain di partai-partai besar dan bereaksi terhadap beberapa hal. Jika mengingatnya lagi saat ini, aku merasa aku salah dalam melakukannya.”

Apakah menurut kalian Perancis pantas lolos ke Piala Dunia 2010 setelah melihat tindakan Henry yang tidak menjunjung Fair-play ? Berikan tanggapan anda melalui komentar.

Depuis maintenant plus d’un mois et demi, les Ils de la Semaine règnent sur Footballwrite.com le vendredi soir . Je vous rappelle en quelques mots le principe , toutes les semaines, Baptiste et Moi choisissons deux joueurs qui nous ont déçus, ou ravis… N’ayant pas encore eu la force de faire un papier sur le match France – Irlande, vu pour ma part  des tribunes du Stade de France, les Ils de la Semaine, eux, ne manquent pas le rendez vous !

Robbie Keane : Autant commencer par le positif… S’il y a un joueur qui a impressionné le Stade de France mercredi, ( autre que Lloris, encore une fois parfait ) c’est bien Robbie. J’aurai pu choisir Duff, le milieu offensif des Verts, mais l’indomptable, l’incorrigible Keane a pris le dessus . Il est souvent, voir trop souvent, confondu avec Roy Keane, l’ancien joueur de Manchester, qui aujourd’hui coach une équipe de seconde division anglaise . Mercredi soir, Robbie Keane a redonné l’espoir à tout un peuple, à ces 12 000 supporters qui avaient fait le voyage dans le but d’encourager l’équipe qu’ils chérissent tant , en inscrivant le but du 0-1 . Une belle action, des défenseurs noyées ne sachant pas quoi faire, et voilà l’ouverture du score. Bien placé, il aura permis entre autre à son équipe nationale de repartir vers l’avant de nombreuses fois. L’Irlande n’est pas qualifiée pour la Coupe du Monde, mais certains qui passeront ici, j’en suis sûre, auraient préféré voir en Afrique du Sud Keane qu’Henry ( le 2ème il de la semaine ) … Petit rappel, après un passage mitigé à Liverpool, Keane évolue de nouveau cette année à Tottenham, dont il n’aura finalement jamais pu se détacher. Come on Robbie !

Thierry Henry : Capitaine de l’Equipe de France, attaquant de classe mondiale, en entrant sur la pelouse du Stade de France, Thierry Henry ne pensait pas en ressortir avec l’étiquette de tricheur collée à sa peau. Plutôt discret pendant 102 minutes de jeu, l’ancien Gunners a envoyé l’EDF en Afrique du Sud d’un double contrôle de la main. Au lendemain du match, toute la presse mondiale lui est tombée dessus. Traité de « tricheur hypocrite » par Tony Cascarino dans The Times, faisant la Une de tous les journaux de sports, Thierry Henry ne se doutait pas qu’il avait remis en question toute sa carrière d’un coup de main. Un geste qu’il défend en parlant de réflexe même si les images traduisent une véritable envie de mettre le ballon sur son pied droit. Les jours et les semaines à venir vont être dures du côté de Barcelone pour notre Titi national. L’attaquant a envoyé un communiqué de presse à Sky Sports News où il avoue que la meilleure solution serait de rejouer le match. Le feuilleton continue …

Footballwrite & Baptiste !

De miercuri de la miezul noptii Irlanda boceste si urla din toti rarunchii aidoma unui prescolar caruia i s-a stricat o jucarie si acum le arunca suparat pe celelalte din tarc. Reactia mai mult decat exagerata a insularilor e de un prost gust ce frizeaza ridicolul, Football Association of Ireland si pana si Ministrul Justitiei in guvernul de la Dublin cersind fara demnitate la FIFA rejucari impotriva regulamentului.

A fost o eroare de arbitraj, o greseala umana, ca destule altele in meciuri de fotbal mai mult sau mai putin importante, cu o mai mare ori mai mica miza. Arbitrul asistent n-a semnalizat pozitia de ofsaid a doi jucatori francezi, la o lovitura libera executata de Malouda in prelungirile barajului de la Paris, iar continuarea o stim cu totii.

Uitati de hentul lui Henry… in prealabil a fost ofsaid!

Daca respectiva pozitie afara din joc ar fi fost semnalizata prompt iar arbitrul de centru suedez ar fi acordat lovitura libera in favoarea Irlandei, nu s-ar fi ajuns la valul populist de oprobiu public impotriva lui Thierry Henry si prin extensie la adresa selectionatei Frantei si pe alocuri chiar a natiunii franceze. Marul discordiei ar fi trebuit sa fie legat de ofsaid, nicidecum de oportunismul ulterior al lui Henry.

Telefoane in direct, in emisiuni, mesaje text si comentarii pe marginea jocului, cu toate au oferit tot atat de multe canale pentru ca publicul insular sa-si verse naduful, dandu-i-se apa la moara si datorita reactiei oficialilor. Iar ce s-a spus si s-a scris aduce nici mai mult nici mai putin cu asasinarea caracterului lui Henry.

Rasul lumii…Comentatorii BBC n-au avut habar de henturi dar au spus apoi ca-i incredibil sa nu fi fost vazut de arbitru!

Culmea ironiei, intr-o mostra evidenta de ipocrizie, ce spune multe despre postura ingrata si uneori fara sansa de scapare a arbitrilor, comentatorii in direct ai meciului pentru BBC Radio 5 Live au sesizat infractiunea abia la peste un minut dupa comiterea hentului, gratie reluarii de pe monitoarele video, moment din care insa au intors brusc foaia, referindu-se la “incredibilul” situatiei: “Este incredibil ca n-a fost vazut de arbitru si e incredibil ca Irlanda sa fie astfel eliminata!”  In prealabil, in comentariul fazei, gazetarul se referise la “o deviere”, despre care puteti asculta aici… http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8367817.stm

Domnilor comentatori le-au trebuit vreo 80 de secunde sa se dumireasca de faptul ca Henry comisese hent dar li s-a parut incredibil ca arbitrul sa nu fi vazut acelasi incident…

Tonul indignat revoltat al acuzatorilor aratand cu degetul spre detinatorul la zi al Champions League, etichetat drept “a cheat“, un trisor, cauta tapi ispasitori dupa ce Irlanda ratase in grupa oportunitatea de a invinge Italia, de care a fost egalata in minutul 90, dupa care n-a dispus nici macar de Muntenegru, in ultimul joc din calificari. Locul doi. La baraj.

Unde, in meci tur, la Dublin, Franta si-a demonstrat superioritatea si a invins meritat cu 1-0, fara ca Irlanda sa concretizeze cele cateva oportunitati avute. Frustrati de visele risipite in fata finalistelor Cupei Mondiale din 2006, unii jucatori irlandezi cautau nod in papura lui Diarra, imediat dupa prima mansa, incercand sa-si faca dreptate dupa fluierul de final.

Miercuri, la Paris, in probabil cea mai buna evolutie a Irlandei din ultimii ani, capitanul Robbie Keane a egalat in prima repriza scorul general al barajului, 1-1, dupa pauza atat O’Shea cat si Duff si acelasi Keane avand oportunitati ideale de a majora diferenta si implicit de a califica Insula de Smarald la turneul final. Ar fi fost probabil o calificare meritata, gratie evolutiei din Orasul Luminii, unde o linie de mijloc cu doi jucatori de la Stoke City, unul de la Blackburn Rovers si un al patrulea de la Fulham a cam manevrat in voie in fata unui “Cocos Galic” neimpunandu-se acolo nici in fata Romaniei.

Dar ocaziile se razbuna si legea nescrisa a fotbalului i-a lovit pe oaspeti aidoma bumerangului.

Si daca golul lui Gallas n-ar fi fost validat, Irlanda tot n-ar fi fost calificata. Unde-i atunci furtul calificarii?

Irlanda plange ca i-ar fi fost rapit dreptul de a ajunge in Africa de Sud insa chiar si daca golul lui Gallas n-ar fi fost validat, nu este cert ca verzii ar fi triumfat la loviturile de departajare spre care curgea meciul. Ar fi ramas 1-0, cu sanse relativ egale pentru combatante de a se califica de la 11 metri. Si-atunci!?!

Ultimul joc la Campionatul Mondial pentru ambele reprezentative se soldase cu esecuri la penaltyuri, Franta in fata Italiei, la Berlin, in finala, iar Irlanda in fata Spaniei, in Coreea de Sud, in optimile din 2002. Cine si-ar fi infrant emotiile si ar fi triumfat? Sunteti convinsi ca Irlanda? Si-atunci de unde pana unde pot afirma irlandezii ca au fost furati de o accedere la Mondial? De la 1-0 in prelungiri pana la un al doilea gol marcat, pe care l-au tot irosit cu nonsalanta, e cale lunga.

Beckham recunoaste ca e greu de spus daca ar fi putut proceda altfel decat Henry

Pe cateva din aceste linii au marsat si David Beckham si Roy Keane, ultimul, in cadrul unei conferinte de presa in calitate de manager al lui Ipswich Town, ambii nefiind de acord cu catalogarea de “trisor” atribuita de mass-media si publicul larg atacantului francez si gasind nu atat scuze acestuia cat explicatii pertinente si puncte de vedere implicand mai multi factori.

De fapt, e o practica de teren de antrenament a fotbalistilor, ce poate deveni reflex necontrolat, de a repotrivi, “reaseza” balonul, odata acesta scapat afara din joc. Si aici poate sari in ajutorul lui Henry latura involuntara, neintentionata, a abordarii sale. Si foarte putini jucatori profesionisti, fie ei si irlandezi ori britanici in general, ce doresc a-si asuma un statut nedovedit de cavaleri nobili ai dreptatii, mai albi ca albul, arogandu-si implicit un compas moral absolut, ar fi procedat probabil altfel decat francezul, in circumstantele date. Dar dupa razboi multi viteji se aduna sa arunce cu pietre.

Cu fair-play si realism, irlandezul Keane indeamna contestatarii sa se uite mai intai in propria ograda

Conferinta lui Roy Keane este o mostra absoluta de echidistanta si curaj in a-ti apara un punct de vedere nepopular, probabil total indegirabil pentru multi pasionati de fotbal, inclusiv compatrioti, in conditiile in care fostul mijlocas a purtat si banderola de capitan al “verzilor”. De urmarit parerea sa pe http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8370497.stm

In contrast cu spusele intelepte ale lui Keane, de fapt o reactie la exagerarile debitate dupa returul din Franta, s-a pravalit un urias val de articole populiste, in cel mai pur stil al maniei proletare, terfelind reputatia lui Thierry Henry dar mergand mult mai departe si impungand din varii unghiuri nationala Frantei. Deloc de mirare, venind de peste Canalul Manecii. Rezidurile sindromului de superioritate, al arogantei atotcunoscatoare si fara echivoc, a veninului perpetuu improscat de urmasii imperialismului ce inca isi asmute tentaculele de sub alta palarie, au degenerat in alte patinaje cu ”inamicul” la tinta fixa. Ce deliciu, sa aiba a le reprosa ceva, cu un aer revendicativ, rivalilor de peste Canal. Mi-ar trebui ore si pagini intregi si n-ar suporta virtualul, rosind de rusine si manie, sa descarc vitriolul altui exces de frustrare insulara.   

Irlanda, in tricouri albe si chiloti verzi, n-a avut 15 secunde de inspiratie absoluta, aidoma altor alb-verzi in Paris, intr-un 17 si nu 18 noiembrie, acum 16 ani, cand Franta era lasata acasa, eliminata in ultima secunda a calificarilor la US World Cup ‘94. De ce n-a reusit Irlanda acel al doilea gol calificant, aidoma lui Emil, fie in repriza secunda, fie dupa egalarea nemeritata reusita de Gallas? La aceste ratari sa fi gasit un raspuns capitanul risipitor Robbie Keane si nu la presupunerile ca Platini si Blatter si-ar fi trimis bezele, strangeri de mana si mesaje text, din susul tribunei, incantati de deznodamantul favorabil Frantei si implicit turneului final in organizarea FIFA…

Stim cu totii ca FIFA are bubele ei, ca Mondialul e o taraba corporatista a companiilor, sponsorilor, marcilor de echipament, ca Franta e dorita ca “brand” si putere de cumparare a suporterilor ei, ca Irlanda nu e in aceeasi categorie a marilor dezirabile, ca fotbalul si societatea in general aluneca pe o panta ireversibila a degradarii conduitei, probitatii si integritatii umane, si-am mai aflat acum ca si alte mari vedete pot oferi mostre de oportunism extrem intru atingerea scopurilor, le stim pe toate astea, insa nu credeam ca Irlanda era buricul pamantului si cea mai nedreptatita dintre nedreptatite. Bocetul federatiei, demnitarilor si fanilor ei pare insa a starni mai degraba ilaritate ori dispret decat simpatie.

Ai pierdut? Continua…

Yesterday the second leg of the World Cup qualifiers were held (in Europe, at least). We now know each and every team which will be present at the World Cup next year… and there are a few surprises, but mostly it’s the teams you’d expect to see, given FIFA’s newly instated practice of seeding the qualification playoffs. The seeding did what it was supposed to do, for the most part – that is, benefit larger nations with bigger and more prominent stars. I’m more than a little bitter, but nevertheless, let’s get on with a rundown of what happened. Oh, and sorry it’s a bit belated.

Portugal 1-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina (2-0 Agg.) – Well, Bosnia & Herzegovina’s World Cup dreams have been shattered. Many of the Balkan states have faltered this year, with only Serbia getting through in initial qualification. I’m sure Edin Dzeko & Co. would have liked to seize their chance for revenge on home soil, but it was simply not to be. The Portugese cruised to South Africa with an easy win despite their host’s best efforts and the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. All it took was a lazy tap in from Raúl Meireless on 56′ to give Portugal a lead which the Bosnians would find insurmountable. Bosnia’s usually-fierce attack was largely subdued, with the only clear-cut chance falling to star man Edin Dzeko ten minutes from full time; he promptly duffed it. And so, while Portugal clearly deserved the win last night, I will proclaim Bosnia-Herzegovina some of the first victims of FIFA seeding.

Slovenia 1-0 Russia (2-2 Agg.) – Slovenia edged past Guus Hiddink’s Russia on away-goal advantage to book their place in South Africa and send the Russkies home to cry in their vodka. Russian fans came into this match with a lot of trepidation; Slovenia is best remembered in Russia as the team who in 2002 were inexplicably awarded a penalty by referee Graham Poll in extra time to defeat Russia and knock them out of World Cup qualification. So, despite the fact that Graham Poll was definitely not officiating last night’s match, one can understand a little Russian nervousness. And maybe Slovenia sensed it, because they put in a stolid performance, muscling the visitors off possession and doing a good job disrupting Russian build-up. Zlatko Dedic gave the home side a deserved lead on 44′, poking the ball home from within the 6-yard box. After the half things would only get worse for Russia, as substitute Aleksandr Kerzhakov was sent off after lashing out at Slovenian keeper Samir Handanovic. Hiddink poured men forwards, playing three in the back, but to no avail. With just seconds left to play emotions were running high, and Chelsea-man Yuri Zhirkov received his second yellow of the night – for pushing over a Slovenian sub standing on the sidelines – and was promptly sent off. With that, 9-man Russia were sent packing as well, with the bitter taste of irony in their mouths – this tmie it was the right calls against them which turned out to be costly.

"The France team will go to South Africa courtesy of unquestionable cheating which highlights the downward spiral affecting football today." - Union of French Teachers

France 1-1 Republic of Ireland (2-1 Agg.) – Well, if the Russia-Slovenia match was less contentious than expected, it was more than made up for by the match that took place in St. Denis, just outside of Paris, France. Les Bleus came into the match with a 1-0 aggregate lead, thanks to a Nicolas Anelka goal in the first leg. However, it didn’t take long for the Irish to eliminate that lead; after a fluid movement by the Boys in Green down the left side of the pitch, Robbie Keane stepped up to sidefoot the ball home on 33′. 1-1. And that was it. For the rest of regular time, the score remained the same. Cue overtime. On 103′, a long, arcing ball was sent into the Irish box. Thierry Henry met the end of it. With his hand. Perhaps it was unintentional, that first touch. But then he touched it again, tapping the ball gently with his left hand, stopping it from going out of bounds and putting it directly to his foot. Then to William Gallas. Who scored. France, you are going to the World Cup. And you should be ashamed. Henry’s handball was the most blatant example of that offense I’ve seen since, well, probably Diego Maradona. You can call him crafty, you can say it’s a part of the game, but I call that poor sportsmanship and I do not think France deserve to be going to the World Cup. Hell, Titi even celebrated wildly, going mad after Gallas put the ball in the net. I call bullshit. I’m sure tons of people will be calling for instant replay to be introduced after this blatant incident of cheating, and while I am still against it, I am starting to think they have a point. Ireland is asking FIFA to declare the match null & void and have a rematch, but it seems unlikely. Normally, I would insert some kind of hopeful point here, some bright side or silver lining. But there is none. There is nothing to be but bitter.

A strategy only a mother could love.

Greece 1-0 Ukraine (1-0 Agg.) – Greece bores me to death. And apparently, they bore the Ukraine to death as well. Otto Rehhagel’s men did it again, squeaking by on a single goal over two legs to knock all Slavic representatives out of next year’s World Cup final. Unfortunately, my predictions that the home side would be buoyed by their vociferous supporters fell flat. Though the crowd at the brand-new Donbass Arena in Donetsk was more than vocal, their voice alone could not lift their flat-footed squad, who fell prey to the clever, but undeniably dull, Greek strategy. Dimitris Salpingidis would be the man who made the difference for Greece, scoring on the back of a deadly combination of well-timed throughball and better-timed run (31′). Rehhagel’s defensive strategy took over from that point on, and though the home side had their fair share of chances, the Greek defense proved inpenetrable. Last night’s victory means that the Greeks are going to their first World Cup in 16 years; the Ukrainians will probably go take a nap.

And with that, Internationals are done until the new year (good riddance!). I’m glad to say good-bye for now; and the next time we meet will be in South Africa.

So close but so far. Republic of Ireland finished empty handed an autumn of so much hope and promise, during which time displayed spirited performances against both the current world champion and world cup finalist France. But for all Ireland’s highs in the games facing the Italians and Domenech’s side, the sense of  failure is even more acute and frustrating for Trapattoni’s men. In football and in life there is a very fine line between succeeding and not. And the devil is in the detail.

[ It happened in just 12 seconds, on the 17th of November '93... It was 1-1 in Paris, in the last minute of the qualifiers for US World Cup, with France needing just that draw. But from Ginola's boot to Kostadinov's shot the history was rewriten: 2-1 for Bulgaria, who ended up playing a World Cup semifinal against Italy in United States. Please notice that the visitors wore white shirts and green shorts, as was Ireland's choice on wednesday. So what stopped than Ireland from making it 2-1 even in the 120th minute? ] 

Against Italy, on Croke Park, Ireland was so close to a famous victory yet Gilardino cancelled in the dying moments Sean St. Ledger’s 87th minute strike. The sense of a lost opportunity beamed in the otherwise smiling Irish eyes. A few days later, in what Ireland imagined to be a final push for the first place and automatic qualification if that St. Ledger goal would have been the last in the top of the table game in Dublin, Montenegro frustrated the Croke Park faithful even further: 0-0. It was Ireland’s third consecutive home draw in World Cup qualifiers and another build up to that sense of near miss. In other words, even if Italy would have failed to beat Cyprus in the peninsula, Ireland wouldn’t have made it to South Africa due to its draw against the ex-Yugoslav minnows…

What not many envisaged at the start of the campaign, was though achieved. Ireland was still in it, with a chance to make it to the FIFA 2010 World Cup. A performance in itself, judging by the poor results in the previous qualifiers, miserably wasted on the desired way to Austria and Switzerland. 

Between Ireland and a winter trip to Africa came across the hand of destiny. France, 1998 Coupe du Monde winner and 2006 World Cup finalist, was drawn in the play-offs as a seeded team versus the Irish. And Croke Park was once again the venue of a spirited but once again short changed Irish display. St. Ledger’s body and the post have deflected Anelka’s shot into Given’s net: 0-1.

The Saturday first leg was another Irish missed opportunity to impose its authority, to take a shaky Goliath of the game by the scruff of the neck. The frustration spilled over in the media, about alleged loose words sneaked by Lassana Diarra towards Keith Andrews at the final whistle. The game was over, the talk was done in the grass with a 1-0 for the favourites and the scrumage at the end of 90 minutes just poised the return leg even further.

In Paris, it was captain’s Robbie Keane honour to put the record straight: the French were superior in Dublin but the tie wasn’t over yet… 1-1 on aggregate. Without Abidal and Escude, his substitute who was unfortunately injured by fellow defender Evra in the opening minutes, the World Cup finalist was more vulnerable by the minute.

Yet Ireland didn’t capitalize on this advantage. Ireland didn’t sent the tie to sleep with a second goal and it’s an unwritten football law that missed chances are coming back to haunt you. O’Shea, Duff and Keane, who have passed even the brave goalkeeper Lloris but apparently wanted to majestically enter with the ball in the net, couldn’t find the target after nicely crafted attacks and the boumerang mercilessly stroke in extra-time.

It was all about an offside. As it happened many times in football, in more or less poised encounters, with a lot or less at stake, the offside rule and its interpretation complicated the affair and sparked controversy. It’s what happened on wednesday evening in Paris, after 11 o’clock. Two French players were offside in a deadball situation but the Swedish assistant referee failed to signal the irregularity and the rest became big time history.

It’s the assistant linesman and his glued flag that failed the Swedish referee in charge of the affairs. Once the offside promptly signaled, the following motion would have became irrelevant. In this light has to be perceived the human error that let Henry’s handballs and Gallas equalizer stand. Without this goal, France and Ireland would have probably gone neck in neck to the purgatory of penalty shoot outs, having to eradicate their demons and worst nightmares.

The French have lost a World Cup final on penalty shootouts, in Berlin, in 2006, while the Irish came off the stage at their last World Cup presence by being beaten from the spot by Spain, in Asia, in 2002. Who would have won? Guess what… There is a 50% chance for France to have won it from the penalty spot.

Fact of the matter is that with or without assistant referee’s error to fail to spot the offside that lead to Henry’s infamous two handball and the undeserved French equaliser, Ireland was always only one goal away from qualifying to South Africa. Let’s remember that a 1-0 for Ireland just cancelled the fine French win in Dublin and only a second goal would have insured the islanders’ passage.

And from Robbie Keane’s leisurely miss in an one on one with the goalkeeper stems all the real frustration of the night that should have been but never unfolded. Created opportunities are to be converted. Narrow misses end in bitter failure. A 2-0 for Ireland in the 76th minute would have been fully deserved for the visitors and appropriate to the balance of forces in Paris yet the captain delayed the outcome and let the qualification at the hand of destiny.

It was one Swedish’s inert hand and one Frenchman’s cheeky opportunism which decided it. The Irish were too dejected to react with a second goal which was earlier in many’s boots. But from one of many unspotted offsides which altered results to a character assasination of a well passed captain and a public outcry on the supposed injustice of the game, there’s a long way. Life is unfair and football remains just a game, at times cruel in the extreme but predicating the very essence of human imperfection.

Do we really want video evidence? Can’t we wait for the pilot scheme tested in UEFA Europa League involving penalty area assistant referees, the brain child of a… Frenchman, to see its worth, benefits and real merits? The push for some rule changes seems near yet until then there are times when graciously and dignifyingly accepting any kind of defeat will draw more plaudits than any seemingly righteous but frustrated outcry. The goal that should have not stand was for all to see and the very implacability of referee’s refusal to ask his assistant was more than enough evidence. 

There’s always another morning… France was announced today as top seed for UEFA 2012 European Championship qualifiers, while Ireland is in the third tier of nine nations, with the draw to be made on the 7th of February 2010 in Warsaw. With a bit of change of fortune, the Irish luck might send back Trapattoni to Paris and the French to Lansdowne Road. That wished replay can wait for a potential proper plotted revenge…

Even the sports illiterate among us know that in soccer, you are not allowed to use your hands (unless you are the goalie).  But in last night’s taut playoff to decide a spot in the World Cup, the referees and French star striker Thierry Henry seemed to temporarily forget that most basic of rules.

In extra time of last night’s World Cup qualifying playoff, Florent Malouda sent a in the direction of Henry to the right of Irish goalkeeper Shay Given in the 103rd minute. Henry appeared to stop the ball with his left hand (pictured in a sloppy screen shot), then used his hand again to slow the ball down and poke the ball with his right foot in front of the net to William Gallas, who headed in the decisive goal while Irish defenders were crying for the officials to make the call.

“(Henry) almost caught it and walked into the net with it,” said Robbie Keane, who had put the Irish ahead in the 33rd minute.

After the game, Henry admitted that he had touched the ball with his hand.

“I will be honest, it was a hand ball. But I’m not the ref,” Henry said. “I played it. The ref allowed it. That’s a question you should ask him.”

Needless to say that the response among Irish fans has not been kind to the French striker.  Several parody songs has cropped up in since yesterday, with this one (set to the tune of Michael Jackson’s Beat It) and another (set to to the tune of A-Ha’s Take on Me) being our favorites. This morning, the Irish soccer federation lodged an official complaint to FIFA, the soccer world’s governing body. Irish government officials on both sides of the political aisle united in demanding that the match be replayed.

“Throughout the country today there is an air of bitterness. We were beaten unfairly and there is general disgust in France too,” Irish lawmaker Joe McHugh said. “Friends of mine who attended last night’s game phoned me this morning from a cafe in Paris to report that the French people are ashamed and do not regard this as an honest victory.”

“If that result remains, it reinforces the view that if you cheat you will win,” said Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern — who also pointed out that two French players appeared to be offsides on a free kick that preceded the goal.

“Millions of people worldwide saw it was a blatant double handball, not to mention a double offside,” Ahern said. “We should put the powers that be in the cozy world of FIFA on the spot and demand a replay.”

Good luck with that.  Although there is no doubt that Ireland got hosed here, the chances of this result being overturned or the match being replayed are just about nil.  Besides, the World Cup is better with the likes of France, a traditional soccer powerhouse, in the field than they are with a relative nobody like Ireland. But make no mistake:  This is the biggest story in the world of sports today.

Speaking of the World Cup, the entire field is now set.  Here are the 32 teams that will be headed to South Africa next summer: United States, Mexico, Honduras, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, The Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Italy, England, Portugal, France, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, North Korea, Japan, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria and host country South Africa.

We can’t wait for World Cup.

        Maybe it’s a FIFA conspiracy, maybe Platini paid off the ref, or maybe the ref just didn’t see it, but whatever way you look at the handball from the ‘thief of St. Denis’; we aren’t going to the World Cup. Only if FIFA grant Ireland a replay, which is extremely doubtful, we will be watching the events in South Africa next summer unfold from our armchairs in our Holland, Argentina, Italy jersey (actually, whatever team France are playing).

       We all now by now that it was a blatant handall, not only a blatant handball but an indication that Henry may have a future in sports which let you use your hands, but what is the point of dragging this issue on for weeks, past the time when FIFA inevitably say there will be no replay. Ireland had enough chances to win the game in normal time: Duff should have scored when one-on-one with Lloris, and Keane will probably regret trying to round the French keeper when he could have lifted the ball over him. John O’Shea, too, had a great chance at the beginning of the second half.

       The French were awful for large parts of the game; misplaced passes, clumsy fouls, incisive defending – if they don’t up their game for next summer there will be many happy Irish football fans – and Domench’s decision not to use Benzema was strange indeed. Ireland will take confidence from their performance; they harried the French, never let Henry or Anelka get going, and at times when the moved the ball around the French box, they looked very dangerous.

            Surely, Trappatoni will now take the leash off this group of players and allow them to express themselves, play footaball that will beat teams, rather than football which sets out not to lose games. The addition of Andy Reid for the Euro qulifiers is a must if Ireland are to build on their brave, promising display in Paris.

            So now we all must wait and see what FIFA do next. Most likely, they will do nothing. An official statement denying Ireland of a replay will probably be the outcome, and, a ‘promise’ to ‘thoroughly look at the possibility of video technology for the future of the game’. Of course, that will be of no consolation to the Irish players and fans who came so close to an historic night in Paris. Such an historic night was denied by, small part Ireland wasting their chances, large part blatant cheating from a suposed ‘role-model’.

            It seems the odds were stacked against Ireland as soon as they realised it would be the play-offs: the seeding debacle, playing at home first, Anelka’s deflected goal, and, the iceing on the cherry last night in extra time. The best for the Irish team is to put the horrible events of last night behind them, and look forward to the Euro’s qualifilying campaign with a belief and confidence that they can beat any team with the right application, mentality and the right way of playing the game.

           Hopefully, we get drawn against the French.

I’m sure everybody has heard/seen about Henry’s handball that lead to Willam Gallas’ winning goal in the World Cup knockout round. And I’m sure everyone has heard the multiple crys that Henry should have ‘been a man’, owned up to his cheating and had the goal ruled out. In an ideal world yes, this should have happened. But can I just ask a few question to those who are now branding Henry as the biggest cheater since the Eduardo.

1. If Henry had told the referee he’d handled and the France had been knocked out, what do you think the reaction would have been in France? He would have been mauled to death. I’m pretty sure he would have, at least for a while, become a hate figure.

2. Would you have said anything? I mean really? Would you potentially knock your country out of the World Cup. Somehow I doubt it. You’d need to have balls the size of the football stadium to do that, and I don’t think you’ve got the grapes.

I’m also told that Robbie Keane, who has already decided that it’s some kind of FIFA conspiracy to keep France in the World Cup, was caught multiple times by the referee after having handled the ball himself last night. Things that make you go hmmm.

What you missed while this traitor to the human race was throwing jellyfish at kids on the beach…

• Salem Saad, striker for the United Arab Emirates side Al Nasr, died after collapsing on the pitch during training. He was 31.
• FIFA won’t sanction a replay of the France-Ireland basketball game, in spite of the fact that Thierry Henry totally admits to the handball.
• Not even Sweden, his home country, is backing up referee Martin Hansson.
• Giovanni Trapattoni, however, hasn’t said his team was robbed (possibly because, had Robbie Keane put away the two clear chances he had, Ireland wouldn’t have had this problem).
• Robbie Keane, however, has blamed pretty much everyone who works at FIFA and UEFA headquarters for the Irish being knocked out…even though the only teams they’ve actually managed to beat in World Cup Qualifying were Cyprus and Georgia.
• Portugal, Greece, Slovenia, Algeria, and Uruguay also qualified for the World Cup yesterday.
• Harry Redknapp has hit out against the “weak” players and their “idiot” agents who go behind his back to talk to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.
• The Cameroon national team would like David N’Gog to consider playing for them; ideally, he’d dive right in and play during the African Cup of Nations.
• Kieran Gibbs should be ready to face Chelsea later this month.
• Japan, the first Asian team to qualify for the World Cup, was not named one of the best teams in the Asian conference.
• The Columbus Crew will face Mexican champions Toluca in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals in March.

El Ministro de Justicia irlandés, Dermot Ahern, pide la repetición del partido ante Francia que dejó al equipo fuera del Mundial

La prensa británica es hoy unánime ante el robo que sufrió Irlanda la noche de ayer en el estadio de Saint Denis. Los irlandeses, que arrastraban un 0-1 de la ida en Dublín, lograron igualar la eliminatoria y forzar la prórroga gracias a un tanto de Robbie Keane, pero en el tiempo añadido se produjo la polémica jugada que significó la eliminación de los de Trappatoni. Thierry Henry, en fuera de juego, controló claramente con la mano el saque de una falta y asistió a William Gallas para que éste anotara el 1-1 que aseguraba el billete para Sudáfrica para el combinado galo.

Al finalizar el partido, el propio Henry no negó la evidencia y las reacciones de los irlandeses no se hicieron esperar. El capitán, Robbie Keane, no se cortó en asegurar a la BBC Radio que Michel Platini, presidente de la UEFA, y Joseph Blatter su homólogo en la FIFA, estarían “dando palmas” y que se “habrían enviado mensajes al móvil”.

La indignación en Irlanda es tan generalizada que incluso el Ministro de Justicia, Dermot Ahern, ha solicitado la repetición del partido. “Puede que piensen que nosotros somos alguien menor en el mundo del fútbol y vamos a ponerlos en su lugar”, aseguró Ahern, que se unía a las peticiones del asistente de Trappatoni, Liam Brady, que manifestó que  “por la dignidad y la integridad del fútbol Irlanda tendría que volver a Francia para jugar de nuevo”.

La prensa británica ya sitúa la mano de Henry entre los grandes robos, injusticias y escándalos en la historia de los campeonatos del mundo. La jugada de ayer en Saint Denis se une a una larga lista entre las que destacan la ‘Mano de Dios’ de Diego Armando Maradona, el gol que no entró del inglés Geoff Hurst en la final del 66 ante Alemania, la memorable actuación del colegiado Gamal Al-Ghandour en el Corea-España de 2002, el pactado 1-0 entre los vecinos Alemania y Austria en el 82 que clasificaba a ambos y dejaba fuera al Argelia, o la goleada de Argentina ante uan comprada Perú (6-0) en 1978, cuando los argentinos necesitaban cuatro goles para clasificarse.